The Hidden Science of Addiction: How Trauma Shapes the Brain and Recovery

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What if addiction isn’t about weakness or willpower—but about how we learned to soothe pain, seek safety, and feel alive? In this illuminating episode of The ANEW Insight Podcast, Dr. Supatra Tovar sits down with licensed clinical psychologist and addiction and trauma specialist Dr. Kenneth Skale to explore the psychology behind addiction, attachment, and the emotional roots of compulsive behavior.

The conversation dives into the “seeking system,” a powerful brain mechanism that drives motivation, curiosity, and reward. Based on the work of neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp, Dr. Skale describes how dopamine doesn’t simply reward pleasure—it energizes the pursuit of it. Whether it’s the thrill of a shopping spree, the anticipation of a drink, or the ritual before a binge, the chase itself becomes intoxicating.

Dr. Tovar and Dr. Skale also unpack the deep link between attachment trauma and addiction. When early emotional needs go unmet or caregivers respond with criticism or neglect, children learn to suppress vulnerable parts of themselves to preserve connection. As adults, these disowned emotions—loneliness, shame, anger—resurface, driving the search for comfort in substances or behaviors that offer predictable, nonjudgmental relief.

Listeners will come away with a compassionate understanding of how trauma, emotional disconnection, and the brain’s reward circuitry interact to sustain addiction—and why true recovery means healing the root cause, not just managing symptoms.

Together, Dr. Tovar and Dr. Skale illuminate a path toward self-awareness, emotional regulation, and reconnection—with ourselves and others. Whether you’re a clinician, a loved one, or someone seeking recovery, this episode offers practical wisdom and hope for anyone ready to transform pain into purpose.

Would you like to know more about Dr. Kenneth Skale? Here are his social media channels :  https://pasadenahealing.com/kennethskale,   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/kenneth-skale-pasadena-ca/209374,  https://www.pchtreatment.com/staff/kenneth-skale-psyd,  https://www.lacpa.org/index.php?option=com_dailyplanetblog&tag=humanity. 

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The three defining components of addiction—and how to identify them
• Why the brain’s “seeking system” keeps us chasing dopamine
• How emotional self-soothing becomes dependency
• The neuroscience behind compulsive habits and pleasure
• The role of attachment trauma in addictive behavior
• Why recovery requires both behavioral change and emotional healing
• How motivational interviewing helps clients face ambivalence with compassion
  
  

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